A Lambton County man who fled the Sarnia area on the eve of his trial has been sentenced to more than four years in prison for sexual assault and failing to wait court.
A Lambton County man who fled the Sarnia area on the eve of his trial has been sentenced to more than four years in prison for sexual assault and failing to wait court.
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Colin Roberts, 33, was at stand trial Nov. 8 in Sarnia. The witnesses all showed up to the Christina Street North courthouse that Wednesday, but Roberts didn’t. Lambton OPP had issued a missing person report about him three days earlier.
“I have no idea where he is. His family has no idea where he is. I hope he’s still alive,” defense lawyer Robert McFadden said at the time.
Justice Mark Poland issued a warrant for Roberts’ arrest that day.
The sexual assault survivor, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, recalled feeling panic after learning he skipped town.
“I don’t remember how I got home. The absolute panic I felt is indescribable,” she said. “The following days until he was found and arrested were the most stressful I have ever experienced.”
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“When Mr. Roberts went missing I became a mess, wondering every day where he was, what he might do. I couldn’t even sleep at night,” a witness added.
Just over two weeks later, Lambton OPP reported Roberts had been found safe, though they made no mention of the arrest warrant or trial.
Roberts later accused guilty of sexual assault and failing to attend court.
He was sentenced recently to four years in prison for the sexual assault and 60 days for failing to attend court. The two sentences will run at the same time. Roberts had 21 days taken off his sentence for pre-plea custody.
“Selfish acts can affect a number of individuals and not just on an isolated basis, but over a period of time,” Justice Paul Kowalyshyn told him. “You can’t undo that which you did.”
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Assistant Crown attorney Michael Donald said he was concerned Roberts didn’t think he needed counseling for his sexual behavior.
“It was predatory, not impulsive,” he said. “The acts were intrusive.”
He and the judge pointed to impact statements written by the survivor and other people involved in the case. They wrote about the mental toll it’s taken on them.
“They were telling. They were informative. They were raw,” Kowalyshyn said.
“I hope that I never have to see Mr. Roberts again. His actions have impacted my life and will continue to do so forever,” one statement said. “Mr. Roberts has taken things from me that I have not yet been able to process.”
Roberts, an insulator journeyman with no prior criminal record, briefly apologized.
“I understand that my actions have impacted people greatly and I’m very sorry for everything,” he said.
Kowalyshyn, who said he had limited remorse, placed him on the Sex Offender Information Registration Act list for 10 years and ordered him not to contact the survivor.
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